Elevator signaling system



March 29, 1932. F. A. BOEDTCHER ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 1.1922 2 Sheets- Sheet l INVENTOR. Fran BY March 29, 1932. BOEDTCHER1,851,488

ELEVATBR SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed p 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. frcwyz4 fioeozcfier AT RNEYS.

Patented Mar. 29, '1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANZ a. nonnrcnaaor Bananas-mm, nnw meme,

ASSIGNOB T0 OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY, OF JEB SEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ACORPORATION 01 NEW ERSEY ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Application filedSeptember 1, 1922. Serial No. 585,624.

This invention is an elevator signaling system of the character wherebya passenger at a floor may signal Operators of a bank of elevator carshis intention of entering any one of the cars at the particular floor onwhich he may be.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical andhighly eflicient system, whereby the pressure of one or more buttons atany particular floor or in any other part of the building will effectthe giving of a signal in only one car, namely, the car which is goingin the particular direction in which the passenger desires to go andwhich is the nearest to the particular floor on which the button hasbeen pressed.

The system of this invention is not only unusually economical to installbut is also economical in its operation.

In practically carrying out the invention in one of its preferred forms,I mount in any suitable position in the building, such as in thebasement, in the shaft, on the overhead or elsewhere, a plurality ofmagnets. Suflicient magnets are provided so that for each car there willbe an up magnet and a down magnet for each floor. With each of thesemagnets is associated an electric circuit including a source ofelectrical supply and also including one or more passengers push buttonswhich the passenger may actuate when he desires to signal the caroperator. The system of this invention is particularly adapted for thegiving of delayed signals and, accordingly, said electric circuit alsoincludes a switch adapted to be automatically closed v as the carapproaches the signaling zone of the particular push button included insaid circuit. so that through the conjoint operation of the push buttonand the said switch, the magnet may be energized. Associated with themagnet is an armature of novel and efficient construction adapted forthe actuation of automatic switch mechanism, which serves not only toeffect the maintaining of a signal in the car, as well as other signalswhich may be desired. but also operates to preclude the giving ofsignals associated with any other car until the circuit in question hasbeen restored in any suitable manner or the signal is which it isdesired to govern under the same conditions.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will beapparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments ofthe invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understoodas illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one of the magnets, theassociated armature and cooperating switch member together with thewiring diagram of one-car for one direction; r

' Figure 2 shows a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1 with awiring diagram for one floor and one direction for two cars; and

Figure 3 shows the present invention as associated with an old and wellknown type of elevator installation.

Elevator signaling systems usually embody an up signaling system and adown signaling system, which usually have common parts or elements. Theup system is usually referred to in the art as the up section, while thedown tion, but that described is a source of electrical energy and 3 amagnet positioned at any desirable location. In practice, there are asmany magnets in each section of each-floor as there are cars to besignaled from the push button 1. Thus in Fig ure 2 of the drawings, themagnets of one floor section for two cars are illustrated, although, inpractice, any number of cars may be signaled by this invention and theshowing is not to be understood as restricted.

4 designates a lamp or annunciator, one of which is positioned in eachcar and 5 is'a bell, one of which is preferably associated with each ofthe signals 4 in each car, so as to audibly call the operators attentionto' the setting of the signal 4. The bell, however, may be omitted ifdesired. The car lamp or annunciator 4 of all of the cars has a wiringconnection 6, which includes the bell 5, while a furtherwiringconnection 7 leads from each signal 4 to a selective switch 8, which,when closed, places the annunciator 4' in communication with the windingof the magnet 3 of the corresponding car through a wire 9. The

other terminal of the winding of the magnet is connected by meansof awire 10 to a fixed contact 11, there, manifestly, being as many contacts11 as there are cars. All of these contacts are adapted to cooperatewith a single switch element 12, which, as shown best in Figure 1, ispivoted at 13 to the magnet frame 14.

In practice, the frame 14 is made substantially L-shaped. The switchelement 12 being mounted on a horizontal portion of the frame and theseveral magnets 3 being mounted on the vertical portion thereof, so thata rigid construction will result. In fact, by grouping the elements ofthe construction as described on a single frame, I am able to handlethese elements during the process of installa- .tion as units, one unitbeing provided for each section of each floor. Modifications instructural details may be made in this construchighly practical andeificient.

The switch element 12 is adapted to engage with all of the contacts 11,this engagement being, in the instance shown, in the form of leaf springcontacts 15 carried by the element 12, and said contacts Hand 15 arenormally maintained in engagement in any suitable manner. In theconstruction shown, the axis of the pivots 13 is so positioned that thev switch 12 will normally gravitate into engagement with the contacts11, although in practice a tension spring may be employed to effect suchengagement.

It will be apparent that when the parts are in the relation shown inFigure 1, with the contacts 15 in engagement with the contacts 11, thecircuits of the signal lamps 4 in all of the cars will each be open, attwo points. That is to say, each circuit will be open at the push button1 and also at the selective switches 8 of. the several cars. In order toenergize any one of the magnets 3 from the source of electrical supply2, it is-necessar first to close the circuit at the passengers pushbutton 1 and this is accomplished by the intended passenger.

In carrying out this system, moreover, I preferably employ a push buttonof the character which will remain closed after operation until it issubsequently reset by means forming no part of this invention. However,in practice, magnets 3 may be included in circuits other than the pushbutton circuits but adapted to be closed through operation of the pushbutton. This phase of the construction may be varied in many ways, theessential feature being that when a push button is operated, a circuitincluding magnet 3 will be closed at one of its normally open points. Inaddition to the push button or buttons at each of the several floors ofthe buildin addi-- tional switches may be placed at at; other desiredplace or places in the building for controlling the energizing of themagnets 3 other than by the passenger.

In the system as thus far described, the actual completion of thecircuit through any fore that the closing of any one of the selectiveswitches 8, 8a, 8b or 8c will complete a circuit through thecorresponding magnet 3. In practice, a set of selective switches asshown in Figure 1 is associated with each car and is operated in timedrelation to said car or in synchronism therewith, so that the severalswitches will be closed automatically during the travel of the car andas the car reaches predetermined points in its travel. Consequently, acar traveling the shaft in a direction for which the system shown inFigure 1 is adapted to signal and will automatically cause the closingof one of the selective switches and will thus effect the energizing ofthe magnet 3 corresponding to such car. The circuit closed will be fromthe source of supply 2, push button 1, wire 6, any one of the selectiveswitches, wire 9, magnet 3, wire 10, contact 11, contact 15, switch 12,frame 14,

and thence through wire 16, back to the source of supply.

The magnet which has been energized is adapted to attract anarmature,one of which is associated with each magnet and bears the referencecharacter 17 Each armature 17 is contacts 11 and 15 is broken.-

rest against the switch 12 tacts 11; However,

pivoted at 18 to the horizontal portion of'the frame 14 and ispreferably so constituted as to gravitate into retracted positionalthough it may be spring retracted if desired. Each armature isprovided with a tail 19, which extends rearwardly thereof and is adaptedto entrain a switch 12 in any suitable manner. For the purpose ofillustration, however, I have shown each tail 19 as projecting throughan aperture 20 in the switch 12 and adjacent each face of the switchfixed collars are s cured. The fixed collar 21 being at the back of theswitch 12 and the fixed collar 22 being at the front of the switch. Thecollars 21 and 22 are spaced apart for a greater distance than thethickness of the switch, so as to permit lost motion, the reason forwhich will be hereinafter more fully explained.

In the normal position of the parts shown in Figure 1, the switch12-will gravitate to engage with the contacts 11, while the armatures 17will gravitate so that the collars 22 and limit the backward movement ofthe armatures. How- 7 ever, when any one of the magnets 3 is energized,its cooperating armature 17 will be drawn toward it to bring the fixedcollar 21 into engagement with the switch 12 and draw the switch inadirection away from theconbefore the contact 15 actually leaves thecontact 11, a lateral projection 23 carried by each armature 17 andshown best in Figure 2, comes into engagement with the spring pressedcontact 24. Each of the contacts 24 has a spring 25 associatedtherewith, wh ch forces the contact 24 into a forward position and intothe path of the corresponding lateral projection 23.

- The spring pressed contacts 24 are electrically connected by wires 26to the Wires 10. Thus, as the armature moves in the direction of themagnet, which has been energized, said armature will engage with itsspring contact 24 and complete a shunt circuit through such engagementbefore the circuit including the The shunt circuit referred to is fromthe frame 14 through the armature 17, spring actuated contact 24, wires26 to wire 10. This shunt circuit serves to keep the magnet 3 energizedeven after the circuit including the contacts 11 and 15 is broken.

It should be noted here that when any particular magnet is energized andattracted its armature as described, it will have, through the movementof the armature into cooperative relation with the magnet, carried theswitch element 12 away from engagement with all of the contacts 11without however drawing forward the other armatures which remainretracted because of the lost motion between the collars 21 when thearmature of any particular magnet is moved forward under-theimpulse ofits magnet, only the one car to which that particparticular floor and isand 22. Accordingly,

ular magnet is related will be able to receive a signal since thearmatures as shown in the upper magnet of Figure 2 willnot engage withthe contacts 24 nor will any of the spring contacts 15 be in engagementwith any of the fixed contacts 11. In contradistinction, note thearmature of the lower magnet of Figure 2, which is completing a circuitbetween the contact 24 and the frame 14.

The electrical connection between the parts 12 and 17 and the part 14may be through the pivotal connections between these parts, but, inpractice, I find it desirable to use pigtail connections designated 100in the drawings.

It will be apparent, however, that the operation of the signal 4 of anyparticular car will be accompanied, either during, before or after, bythe giving of the signals 4a, 4b, 40, etc. corresponding to that car inaccordance with the particular timing of the several selective switches8, 8a, 8b and 80 and so long as any of these switches are closed and thecorresponding magnet energized, the corresponding circuits of all othercars are inoperative and no signal can be received or given by theaction of any other car for the particular floor sectionof which thepush button 1 forms a part. a

In practice, selective switches referred to may be of any well known andconventional type and may be operated from or by the car with which theyare related, the essential feature being at some predetermined time theyare automatically closed in accordance with the position of the car inits shaft. It is frequently desirable to have the several signals ofeach section for each car operate one after the other, the signal in thecar being given in suflicient time so that the operator may stop the carconveniently at the floor from which the signals are sent.

It will be apparent however that the signal 4 will not be given untilthe switch 8 is closed nor will the signals 4a, 4b and 40 be given untiltheir respective switches 8a, 8b and 80 are closed.

It will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description of theinvention that, in one of its practical forms, it is unusually simple inconstruction. In installing the system for a plurality of floors and aplurality of cars, the wiring diagram shown in Figure 2 is appropriateto one section of an cated for each floor and each section, althoughcertain of the wires of the diagram may be common to both sections andseveral floors. This wiring diagram will naturally be varied to suitconditions, but, in all instances, the underlying principle oftheinvention will remain the same and aswill be apparent embodies, in abroad sense, the utilization of means common to all the cars forcontrolling signals of all the cars and for each section of each floor,which common means is operable practically dupliby means associated withany one car to not only effect the giving of the signals associated withthat car, but to simultaneously render the corresponding signals of allthe other cars inoperative.

In practice, the magnets 3 may be controlled from a single passengerspush button 1,.as described, or may be controlled from a plurality ofpassengers push buttons arranged in multiple at a given floor, or may becontrolled either from a passengers push button at a floor or fromadditional switches positioned at other parts of the building from thepoint where the push button 1 is positioned. Moreover, beside the signal4 in the car, additional signals 4a,4b, 40, etc., may be included in thesystem. It is not considered practical to claim all these severalsignals independently in different groups of claims and, accordingly,any one of these sig nals is referred to as a signal in the appendedclaims. The system is capable of modification in adapting it to variousenvironments such as difl'erent building constructions or banks of carsof difierent numbers, without departing from the invention, which is tobe considered as broadly novel as is commensurate with the appendedclaims.

In order, however, that the particular manner of adapting the presentinvention to conventional systems may be readily understood, I haveshown, in Figure 3, the invention associated with an old and well knownsignaling installation which forms the subject matter of the Smalley andReiners Patent No. 634,220 of October 3, 1899, the present inventionbeing shown associated with the wiring diagram of Figure 1 of saidpatent. The Smalley and Reiners system has gone into extensive use andis well understood by those skilled in the art. Inasmuch as Figure 1 ofthe Smalley and Reiners patent shows a system for two cars, I haveadapted to this showing the general arrangement of Figure 2 of thisapplication, and have designated the parts of Figure 3 to correspondwith the parts of Figure 2.

When the present invention is thus associated with the Smalley andReiners system, the pressing of any particular passengers push buttonwill cause the signal to be picked up by one carwhile false signaling tothe other car will be precluded so long as the first car is traveling inthe zone appropriate to that particular push button. The shunt circuitwill during this period maintain the signaling means operative to effectsignaling on one car as well as the giving of the other signalsassociated with such car but in thus maintaining these signalsoperative, the switch member is held in a position to preclude thecorresponding signals associated with the other car from functioning.

From Figure 3, the practicability of the present invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art. It will be understood, however,that the showing of my system in conjunction with the Smalley andReiners construction is for illustrative purposes only and that it maybe associated with any other well known system.

Having thus fully described the invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an elevator si nal system for a plurality of cars, a plurality ofsignals at each of a plurality of landin s, one for each of said cars, asignal circuit tor each of said signals, car-controlled switchingmechanism for each of said cars for completin the landing signalcircuits for the car for which it is provided, circuitcontrolling meansfor the signal circuits for each landing and having actuating meanscommon to all of the cars, and means responsive to the completion of thesignal circuit for but one ofthe cars for a landing for causingoperation of the circuit controlling means for that landing by itsactuating means to open the corresponding circuits for all the othercars for that landing and to thereafter maintain said circuits for.

the other ears open during'the time that such one circuit is maintainedcompleted.

2. In an elevator signal system for a. plurality of cars, a plurality ofsignals at each of a plurality of landings, one for each of said cars, asignal circuit for each of said signals, ca r-controlled switchingmechanism for each of said cars for completing the landing signalcircuits for the car for which it is provided, normally closed circuitopening means interposed in said signal circuits for each landing,

means for each landing and common to all of said cars for actuating saidcircuit openmg means for the landing for which the actuating means isprovided, and means operable upon the completion of a signal circuit forany one of said landings for any one of the. cars, under conditionswhere no other car, travelling in the same direction as said one car, iswithin a predetermined distance of said landing at the time that saidone signal circuit. is completed, to cause the operation of said circuitopening means for that landing by its actuating means to open the signalcircuits for that landing for all other cars.

3. In an elevator signal system for a plurality of cars, a plurality ofsignals at each of a plurality of landings, one for each of said cars, asignal circuit for each of said signals, car-controlled switchingmechanism for each of said cars for completing the landing signalcircuits for the car for which it is provided, normally closed circuitopening means interposed in said signal circuits for each landing, meansfor each landing and common to all of said cars for actuating saidcircuit opening means for the landing for which the actuating meansisprovided, and means operable upon the completion of a signal circuitfor any one of said landings for any one of the cars, under conditionswhere no other car, travelling in the same direction as said one car, iswithin a predetermined distance of said landing at the time that saidone signal circuit is completed, to cause the operation of said circuitopening means for that landing by its actuating means to open the signalcircuits for that landing for all other cars, said circuit openingmeans, upon the opening of said one circuit, returning to normallyclosed condition.

4;. In an elevator signal system for a plurality of cars, a plurality ofsignals at each of a plurality of landings, one for each of said cars, asignal in each of said cars, a signal circuit for each of said signalsfor each landing, a signal circuit for each landing signal, carcontrolled switching mechanism for each of said cars for completing thesignal circuits for the car for which it is provided, electricallyinterconnected normally closed circuit opening means interposed in saidsignal circuits for each landing, means for each landing and common toall of said cars for actuating said circuit opening means for thelanding for which the actuating means is provided, and means operableupon the completion of a landing signal circuit for any one of said carsfor any one of said landings, under conditions where no other car,travelling in the same direction as said one car, is within apredetermined distance of such landing at the time that said one signalcircuit is completed to cause the operation of said circuit openingmeans for that landing by its actuating means to open the signalcircuits for the landing signals and car signals for all the other carsfor that landing and thereafter to maintain such circuits open durin thetime that such one circuit is maintalned completed, said circuit openingmeans, upon the opening of said one circuit, returning to normallyclosed condition.

5. In an elevator signal system for a plurality of cars serving aplurality of floors, an individual signal for each of said cars for eachfloor, an electric circuit for each of said signals, an armature foreach of said floors,

said armatures being common to all of said cars, magnetic means for eachof said armatures, car controlled switching means for each of said carsfor completin the signal circuit for the car for whic the switchingmeans is provided and for the floor corresponding to the position of thecar, and for causing the energization of said magnetic means for suchfloor, and circuit controlling means for each of said armatures andoperable thereby upon energization of said magnetic means for thatfloor, under conditions where no other car, travelling in the samedirection as said one car, is within a predetermined distance of saidfloor at the time that said one signal circuit is completed, to open thecorresponding signal circuits for all the other cars for that floor andto maintain said other signal circuits open during the time the firstsignal circuit is established.

7 6. In an elevator signal system for a plurality of cars serving aplurality of floors, an individual signal for each of said cars for eachfloor, an electric circuit for each of said signals, car controlledswitching means for each of said cars for completing the signal circuitfor the car for which the switching means is provided and for the floorcorresponding to the position of the car, and a plurality ofmagnetically operable switches, one for each of said floors, each ofsaid switches having a circuit breaking member common to all of thecars, said switches being responsive to the completion of the circuitfor the signal for any one of the cars for the floor for which theswitch is provided, under conditions where no other car, travelling inthe same direction as said one car, is within a predetermined distanceof said floor at the time that said one signal circuit is completed, toopen the corresponding signal circuits for all the other cars for thatfloor and to maintain said other signal circuits open during the timethe first signal circuit is established;

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

FRANZ A. BOEDTCHER.

